Menu Plan Monday 11/9 (Chicken & Dumplin Review)

Ham, Green Beans, Potato Salad

Homemade Pizza, Salad

Lemon Pepper Baked Chicken, Corn, Asparagus

Taco Soup



I rolled over two meals from last week because we had something different than I had planned one night (spaghetti) and then we had chicken and dumplings 3 nights in a row! It made SO much! I had laid hamburger meat out to thaw, to go in my Taco Soup but for some reason or another it never got cooked and put in the crock pot. So here it was, almost supper time and I needed something to make. I almost always have spaghetti noodles and jarred spaghetti sauce or a spaghetti spice packet and some kind of canned tomatoes in my pantry. I also have a saved recipe from allrecipes that I've used that is SO good for homemade spaghetti sauce. But again, that's for when I have more time because the sauce needs to simmer for a while. Lets face it, some days don't go as planned! We often do sandwiches on those kinds of days but sometimes it's nice to have a quick, hot meal as an option too!

Today, I'm cooking a big ham that I got on sale! So, tonight we'll have that and instead of having ham sandwiches with the leftovers tomorrow night, I plan on making breakfast: biscuits, ham, scrambled eggs & fruit. Whatever is left I will freeze for soup!

So, for those of you who are interested in how my chicken and dumplings turned out.. they were really good! I used the frozen dumplings. I was afraid to try my own the very first time I made them! I cooked three chicken breast (about 3 lbs, bone in, skin on), one chopped onion and a big tablespoon full of garlic in about 5 quarts of water until the chicken was done and pulling away from the bone. I took the chicken out of the water to cool and added a little extra water to the broth. Some of the liquid had evaporated and I wanted to make sure I had the right amount. I brought the broth back to a boil and started adding the frozen dumplings, one at a time while stirring often. I only added half of the packet of dumplings. I could have added them all but I just wasn't sure, it seemed like a lot to me and turned out to be plenty. After the dumplings were all in I brought it to a rolling boil and then turned it down to simmer and covered. They cooked for about 45 minutes. I just stirred them every so often. During the cooking time I shredded my chicken and then around the 45 min mark I added the chicken and seasoned with salt and pepper. I actually added some salt & pepper earlier just to the broth and chicken but I had to add more after everything was back in the pot. It wasn't as thick as I wanted it so I took about a cup of the hot broth out and whisked in about 2 TBS of flour and added it back to the pot and brought it to a rolling boil. This helped but I'm just not sure if there is a way to get that much liquid good and thick without making a rue or something from the very beginning. I'm going to work on that and get back with you! If you have any tips, let me know! I think I had in myhead they should be like Cracker Barrel's chicken and dumplings... big, chunky dumplings with a really thick sauce. These were thin dumplings with a brothy sauce. They were SO good though and had a great flavor. And actually I think my dumplings (hah!) have a better chicken flavor. I must say that on the 2nd and 3rd day they were much better than the first! The broth was much thicker after it sat in the refrigerator! Maybe that's the trick, make them a day ahead! Eli LOVED the chicken out of it! He couldn't get enough! Luke, of course, wouldn't touch it. Next time I am going to attempt my own dumplings!

I've also been working on biscuits! I've found a recipe that is really good but it needs a little tweaking! I made the biscuits Friday night to go with our leftovers. The recipe made 9 biscuits and I was thinking that we'd have some for breakfast the next day. Nope, our little family of four ate all nine biscuits in one night! So, I guess they're pretty good as is, but I think they can improve! I'm determined to one day have kids and grandkids who rave about my biscuits! :)

Check out orgjunkie.com for more menu and recipe ideas!

M2M Blogroll Scavenger Hunt

You know, I debated on whether or not I was going to participate in this for a while before I decided to do it. We currently aren't in a pastorate. In fact, the one year anniversary of the Hubs being fired is coming up. So, it's longer than most I would guess? And I have a feeling it may be a while before God leads us to a ministry position. I have never spoken publicly about the details of what happened and I don't plan on it. Like I've said before, it's delicate. Not in the sense that I don't want anyone to know what happened. It's just that there are others I have to think about when speaking publicly. I have shared my feelings and how God has worked. And I'll continue to. But I do want to take the opportunity to let anyone out there in the Ministry Wives' world that I am here to listen if you need a shoulder. I didn't have many friends that I felt I could call anytime and just pour my heart out to when it all happened to us. Don't get me wrong, I had wonderful friends of support and encouragement. Wonderful! But sometimes you just need to vent and cry. Sometimes I still do.

My husband hasn't 'left the ministry'. I know it's a desire that burns deep inside him. We will just wait on God and I know He will be faithful to us. He is always faithful.

1. First Name. Crystal

2. State and Country of Residence. Sweet Home Alabama

3. Husband’s Ministry Title. He was Associate Pastor/Youth Minister

4. Length of time in Current Ministry Location. We were at our last church for almost two years.

5. Children? If yes, give gender and ages. Yes!! I have two boys, Luke (3) and Eli (14 months)

6. Number of unique homes in which you’ve lived during your marriage. We have been married 5 years and have lived in 5 different houses! The most unique being my parents house. We lived with my parents for 8 months right after my husband was fired. I never expected to move back in with my parents at 27, with my husband and two small children!

7. Cook Sunday lunch or eat out? I cook most Sunday's, even if it's just sandwiches! And honestly, most Sunday's it is just sandwiches!

8. Typically on time for Sunday School or not? Seriously?? We have two small children, what do you think? Most of the time we're right on time!

9. Favorite TV Show. I love the Duggars! They fascinate me! I have even read their book! I'm also a BIG fan of The Cosby Show but I have no clue if re-runs even come on anymore! What happened to good TV? I do have the first season on DVD that I pull out every once in a while!

10. Something you watch/like/do that you would never tell the church people. (Except now you just did…lol) I must be completely and totally boring because I can't think of anything. This is totally lame.. but the only thing I can think of is that I stay up waaay too late. I usually go to bed around 12am. I need to work on that!

11. Most annoying church-related pet peeve. One thing that comes to mind is when people hold strongly to opinions on things that aren't biblically based. So many base their opinions on something they've been taught (by man) or tradition.. not the Bible.

12. One thing you need to throw away but can’t bring yourself to do it. I have a huge folder of recipes that I NEVER look in. It's followed me everywhere. I need to just chunk it. That and clothes. Last year I finally went through my tiny, strappy cute shoes and got rid of them. I kept thinking that my feet were going to shrink after I had my first. Nope. They never did. I will forever be a 1/2 size bigger. Doesn't mean I can't buy cute shoes.. it just means I can't squeeze my feet into that small size anymore!!

13. The one food you can not live without. Caffeine... either in the form of Diet Coke or coffee.. wait, is caffeine food? I say yes.

14. Parsonage or have your own home? That is a no brainer, right? We're renting a house from my dad currently. What a blessing!

15. Freak when the doorbell rings or always ready for a visitor? I tried to always be ready for visitors. We didn't have many though. Now? You better call me before you come over! I'll probably come to the door.. but it might not be pretty! :)

I'm looking forward to learning more about the other women who are part of The Preacher's Wife, Married to the Ministry blogroll!

The Love of God

Today I am choosing to bask in God's love. I know He loves me unconditionally and endlessly. But I also know I don't understand that kind of love. I'm asking for more understanding. I'm asking Him to pour His love on me today. I am so desperate for Him.

"Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds." Psalm 36:5

"How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings." Psalm 36:7

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1


"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ... " Ephesians 2:4-5

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." John 15:9

The Love of God

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.


When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Frederick M. Lehman, 1917

Thankfulness

I decided to join my bloggy friend, Xandra, in the 2009 Giving Thanks Challenge. I think it's a fantastic way to focus on the things, little or big, that we are thankful for. After all, that's what this time of the year is about!

All you have to do is post something you are thankful for, for each day in November. It's as easy as putting them in a list on your sidebar. Leah actually posts a short little post on each thing she is thankful for, which is a great idea too! I definitely think it will help me reflect on all of the blessings God has placed in my life! I hope you'll participate, too! Jump in even if you're a few days late! Head over to Leah's blog and grab the button and start your thankfulness list! Make sure you let Leah know you're participating by signing in on her post!

May God be magnified through our thanksgiving...

"I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving."

Psalm 69:30